Each and every one who competes in holdem knows that a-k is one of the very best opening hands. But, it’s just that, an opening hand. It is simply two cards of a 7-card formula. In just about every situation, you will want to come out firing with Ace-King as your pocket cards. When the flop comes, you need to check out your cards and consider things completely before you just assume your overcards are the strongest.
Like many other opportunities in hold’em, knowing your competitors will help you gauge your position when you hold Ace-King and see a flop like nine-eight-two. Since you wager preflop and were called, you assume your opponent is also possessing great cards and the flop may have missed them as badly as it by-passed you. Your assuming will often times be correct. Also, don’t neglect that many bad competitors wouldn’t know great cards if they fall over them and might have called with Ace-Something and paired the poker table.
If your opponent checks, you could check and observe a free card or make a wager and attempt to pick the pot up right then. If they wager, you could raise to see if they are in or fold. What you want to avoid is simply calling your opponent’s bet to observe what the turn brings. If any card other than and Ace or King hits, you will not know any more information than you did after the flop. Let’s say the turn brings a four and your competitor bets once again, what should you do? To call a wager on the flop you must believe your hand was the greatest, so you must surely think it remains so. So, you call a bet on the turn and 1 more on the river to find out that your opponent was holding 10-8 and just a second pair after the flop. At that moment, it dawns on you that a raise after the flop could have captured the money right then.
Ace-King is a wonderful thing to find in your hole cards. Just be certain you compete in them intelligently and they can bring you amazing cheerfulness at the poker table.
